Newsletter April 2015

Newsletter April 2015 Issue 7

Contents 3…….Welcome 4…….The Term in Pictures 6…….Term Timeline 8…….INTERVIEW: Meet out new teacher, Marie 9…….STUDENT REVIEW: Java Jazz 10…...Letters and Exam Results

11…...Quizzes and Games 13…...Next term

Welcome to the Excel College April newsletter.

Here at Excel College, we are settling into our new building nicely. Students are enjoying having more space and brighter classrooms and the teachers are very pleased that they have a much bigger staff room! This is especially important because last term we welcomed another new teacher to the team. Marie starting working with us in March and you can read an interview with her, including her tips for practising your English, on page 9.

Last term, we also announced a new Excel College course. The International Foundation Year course is for students who want to study at a university in the UK. The course gives them the English language and study skills they’ll need to study at a degree level. Students can start an International Foundation Year in September this year and we are now accepting applications.

Out of class, there has been lots happening too. Some of our students took part in a language college football tournament. The Excel College team played brilliantly and got to the final where they lost on penalties. It was a very close match! Students also enjoyed a day trip to Liverpool with Mike (one of our teachers). Mike comes from Liverpool so he knows lots about the city and was able to take students to see the best bits. They went on a boat trip on the River Mersey and visited the Cavern Club where The Beatles famously played. You can read more about what we have been doing this term in our Term Timeline on page 6.

This term will be as busy as always. We are planning trips to go kayaking on the canal, to go bowling, to visit the Museum of Science & Industry, and to visit historic Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire. You can find information on all of our trips on the College website or the notice board in reception.

If you’d like to practise your writing skills by writing a review, a recipe, a letter or an article for the next newsletter, send an email to admin@excel-college.com. For those of you who are back at home after your Excel College experience, tell us what are doing now and how you are using your English! We’d love to see your photos and videos too!

Anna Bartholomew Admissions and Student Services

If you’re looking to meet new people in Manchester, join Meet Up! You can find lots of different groups in the city who host regular activities, with something for every interest: hiking, reading, international exchange, dancing and cycling to name a few!

You can also keep up-to-date with Excel College social activities by joining our Meet Up group.

3

The term in pictures

Term Timeline What happened at the College, in Manchester and in the UK last term?

Have a look at our timeline to find out.

Start of term 5th January We started the new term in our new building on busy Oxford Street.

Manchester Beer Festival 21st January We went on a trip to the beer festival. It’s the second time the festival has been held in the National Cycling Centre so we saw some bike races as well as trying lots of different beers.

The Whitworth Gallery reopens 14th February After a massive redevelopment, The Whitworth Gallery reopened with some amazing exhibitions and a firework display.

Chinese New Year Celebrations 19th February Manchester always has big celebrations for Chinese New Year. This year, we visited the Chinese food and craft markets on St Ann’s Square.

Kuwait National Day 25th February Our Kuwaiti students planned an amazing party to celebrate Kuwait National Day. There was a quiz, games and lots of food!

Pancake Day 17th February Instead of Mardi Gras, Manchester celebrates Pancake Day!

6

Manchester Irish Festival 6th March Every year, around St. Patrick’s Day, the city celebrates with Manchester Irish Festival. There were Irish music and dance performances, comedy shows and a parade on St. Patrick’s Day.

Trip to Liverpool 21st March We went to Liverpool for the day and visited museums, took a boat trip on the River Mersey, went on a tour through Victorian Liverpool and went to The Cavern.

Northern Quarter Tour 12th March We went to explore Manchester’s Northern Quarter, a creative area with lots of independent bars, galleries, cafes and shops.

Football Tournament 1st March The Excel College team played in a football competition against other colleges in Manchester and came second!

7

April Fools’ Day 1st April On April Fools’ Day, people play tricks on each other. There are also usually funny, fake articles in the newspapers.

An Interview with Marie Marie joined the Excel College team last term. She is currently teaching Elementary and IELTS Advanced level classes. Read her tips for practising your English and find out why she became a TEFL teacher in our interview. example read newspapers, watch TV, listen to the radio, go to the cinema, go to museums and read the signs, but most of all, find people to speak English with!

Why did you become a TEFL teacher?

I first taught during my year abroad from university and I enjoyed it so much that I decided I wanted to carry on teaching when I finished my degree. I love meeting people from different countries and learning about other cultures - I learn a lot in class too! I also love languages so it's the perfect job for me!

What is your best teaching memory?

One of my favourite memories is when a class I taught in Belgium prepared breakfast for me as a surprise. We had been learning food vocabulary and I cooked a traditional English breakfast for them one day (sausages, eggs, beans etc.) so they decided to do the same for me, to show me what they usually ate for breakfast. Each student brought in something different and we had a great feast of croissants, eggs, orange juice, yoghurt, fruit and coffee. It was delicious!

Tell us about your first ever teaching job.

It was in Belgium - I worked in three different colleges teaching students who were doing degrees in Hotel Management or studying to become secretaries. It was a lot of fun!

In what countries have you taught?

Belgium, Switzerland, Australia and the UK. What advice would you give to students who want to practise their English out of class?

Make the most of the English around you - for 8

What is your worst teaching memory?

I worked in a Korean school in Australia and it was so disorganised. There were no books for the teachers to use, no photocopier or computer or printer - it was extremely hard to prepare lessons! One day I had spent hours preparing my own materials and my manager

said she would print out the worksheets at her office and bring them to the school for me, but she forgot! So I had to teach a 3-hour lesson without my materials - it was a challenge!

Where's your favourite place in the UK? I love the Lake District because the scenery is so beautiful and it's really quiet and peaceful. I grew up in a small village in the countryside so I'm more used to being surrounded by nature than the noise of the city!

Can you think of a question to ask yourself?

What’s your favourite place in Manchester?

I really like Castlefield - I love walking by the canal and seeing all the boats. It's also a good place for picnics in summer and there are lots of places to have a coffee or a drink outside in the sun.

Student Review Competition: Java Jazz Last term, Hazel’s intermediate class all took part in a review competition. All of the entries were very good and included reviews of a trip to Las Vegas, lunch in a Nando’s restaurant and of a football match between Manchester City and Barcelona. However, the winner of the competition was Shinta with her review of a Java Jazz concert. Well done Shinta! Well done to Hayfa and Salem too—their entries came second and third! instruments was harmonious so that all the people there felt relaxed. We were fascinated because it was the first time in our lives that we had been to a jazz show.

In July 1995 I was watching a fantastic live music show. It was the Java Jazz Festival. It was held in one of the great cafes in Jakarta. I was there with my husband.

The café is a fascinating place for its shows. It was a nice place to have this event. The musicians played instruments very well and it was amazing. The combination of the 9

We liked this fantastic show because my favourite jazz group “Karimat A” played at that time. We really enjoyed it and all of the audience applauded at the end of the show.

I recommend my friends to see this show some day. You can enjoy an interesting and fantastic combination of sounds and also a very professional singer and I think it will astonish you.

Exam Results and Letters We love hearing about students’ exam results and their experiences at Excel College.

You can send your results or letters to admin@excel-college.com

10

Quizzes and Games

1

The Great Outdoors

Now the weather is getting better, it’s time to go outside! Can you name these outdoor activities?

Can you use the verbs to make past simple sentences? a.

We ________ (have) lots of fun in the Lake District.

1

2

3

b.

I ________ (go) on a bike ride last night.

c.

Last summer, we _________ (stay) on a campsite in France.

d.

We __________ (walk) for 15 miles yesterday.

e.

My brother __________ (catch) a fish from the river.

f.

They ___________ (see) lots of wildlife in the national park.

g

After the boat trip, I __________ (be) very tired.

h.

She ____________ (take) some amazing photos of the mountains.

i.

I __________ (love) our trip to Wales.

j.

He told me that he ___________ (spend) ÂŁ100 on his new walking boots.

k.

It __________ (rain) every day when we went on holiday to Ireland.

4 4

4

5 5

6

7

11

Culture Vulture Crossword This term, a new arts centre called Home opens in Manchester. It will be the biggest multi-arts venue in the UK outside London with a cinema, theatre and art gallery.

But how cultural are you? Test your cultural 1 vocabulary in our Culture Vulture Crossword!

2

3 4

5

Across

6

3 Someone who plays music in the street for money 4 7 8

The place you go to see a play

6 Some people call this vandalism, others call it street art

9 10

7 A painting of an object or a collection of objects (5, 4)

11

12

10

A live music performance

12

Another name for a writer or author

13

The words of a song

13

Down 1

A play that includes singing, dancing and acting

2

A painting of a person

5

A person who designs buildings

8

The place you go to see a film

9

The place you go to see an art exhibition

11

Equipment photographer uses to take photos

Everyday English: Giving Opinions Are these informal opinions on cultural events positive, negative or neutral?

1. Musicals aren’t really my cup of tea.

2. The exhibition wasn’t bad.

3. The last book I read was a real page-turner.

4. I thought the firework display was excessive.

5. My two-year-old niece could have painted that picture.

6. The music they play is really up my street.

12

What’s happening this term?

Manchester always gets very busy in the spring. The weather is getting warmer and there are lots of things to do. This term there will be two arts festivals (in Chorlton and Didsbury), the BMX bike world cup, the Great City Games with professional athletics in the city centre and a charity rubber duck race! This spring, Home, a new arts centre (the biggest in the UK outside London) will open in Manchester, and Salford will host it’s annual music festival, Sounds from the Other City.

At the College, we have trips planned to visit MOSI, to visit Quarry Bank Mill (where you can see a working cotton mill from the 18th century), to go bowling and to go kayaking on the canal.

Have a look at our events calendar for more information.

To all students returning to Excel College after the break or starting classes for the first time, we hope you have a fun and successful term!

Write for the Excel College Newsletter!

Put your writing skills to the test!

Want to review a book, film or restaurant? Love or hate something about Manchester? Want to give a big thank you to your favourite teacher?

We’d love to hear from you!

Send articles, photos or ideas to admin@excel-college.com

Quiz Answers The Great Outdoors 1 Camping. 2 Horse riding. 3 Hiking. 4 Climbing. 5 Fishing. 6 Sailing. 7 Cycling. a had. b went. c stayed. d walked. e caught. f saw. g was. h took. i loved. j spent. k rained.

Culture Vulture Crossword Across: 3 Busker. 4 Theatre. 6 Graffiti. 7 Still life. 10 Concert.

12 Novelist. 13 Lyrics. Down: 1 Musical. 2 Portrait. 5 Architect. 8 Cinema. 9 Gallery. 11 Camera.

Everyday English: Giving Opinions 1 Neutral. 2 Neutral. 3 Positive. 4 Negative. 5 Negative.

6 Positive.

13